Massage device



Dec. 27, 1932. R. .1. METZLER MASSAGE DEVICE Filed D60. 5. 1930 fa AINVENTolL Robery J/Vzzr W ATTORNEYS.

PATENT OFFICE f l y i ROBERT J. uErzLEB, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY MSSAGEDEVICE Application led December 5, 1930. Serial No. 500,383.

This invention relates to a massage device andone object of theinvention is to provide a device of this character particularly intendedfor use as a device for massaging the gums and other portions of themouth.

form ribs upon the sleeve or body ortion. of 'the device that a verygood massaging action will take place and also permit it to bethoroughly cleaned after being used.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this characterwherein one side has massaging ribs and the other side suction cups forselective use.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure1 isa side elevation of a toothbrush having the improved massagingdevice applied to its handle. l

Figure 2 is a`n enlarged view of the massa e device looking at one facethereof.

igure 3 is a view looking at the other face of the massage device.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the massage device.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the device taken along theline 5--5 of Figure 2.

Fi ure 6 isa transverse section taken along the iines 6-6 of Figure 4,and v Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view showing the device appliedto a handle having concaved surfaces.

This improved massage device is intended to be used as an accessory to atoothbrush and in Figure 1, has been shown applied to the handle l of atoothbrush 2 of a conventional construction Where it is indicated ingeneral by the numeral 3. The massage device is formed entirel of softrubber and has a fiat body 4 which is of greater length than width andhas rounded ends as shown in Figures 2 and 3 so that it may be insertedinto a persons mouth and the gums massa-ged Without danger of irritationto the gums and other portions of the mouth by sharp corners at ends ofthe massager. A passage 5 is formed longitudfnallythrough the body andthis passage is rectangular in cross section as shown in Figure 6 inorder that it may fit snugly about the handle and by firmly gripping thesame beheld firmly in place upon the handle and prevented from slippinlongitudinally thereon or circum'feientialy about the same when in use.By referrin to Figures 6 and 7 it will be seen that the side walls ofthebody are thicker than the upper andl lower walls thereof. When thisdevice, which may be termed an applicator,y is applied to a support,such as the handle of a tooth brush or the like, having concaved frontand rear faces, it will, when in use, conform to the 4contour of thegums. A head 6 extends circumferentially about the body intermediate thedepth of the marginal faces thereof and at the ends of the passage 5this bead extends about the passage as shown at 7 to reinforce the bodyat the ends of the passage and eliminate danger of tearing when applyingthe device to the handle or while it is in use.

One wall of the body carries ribs 8 which extend transversely of the bodin spaced parallel relation to each other an it should be noted thatthese ribs extend outwardly in cross section as shown in Figure 4 andalso have their ends convergin outwardly as shown in Figures 6 and 7. ythis arrangement the ribs will bey flexible and may have yieldingmovement when the device is inserted into the mouth and reciprocatedwith the ribs bearing against the gums. This causes a good rubbingaction to take place and stimulates circulation. The taper of the ribsalso forms wide spaces between them as shown in Figures 4 and 5 therebypermitting the device to be thorou hly cleaned with a minimum amount ofe ort.

Theopposed wall also carries ribs and by referring to Figure 3 it willbe seen that these ribs are arranged in groups of concentric circles asshown at 9, 10 and l1, thereby deinin rosettes 12 constitutin suctioncups whic when pressed against t e gums cause the device to adhere anddraw blood towards the surface as the ribs massage the gums. When thisside of the device is in use a very good effect will be produced as thesuction draws blood towards the surface and the massage action of theribs causes a good circulation to take place.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improvedinvention, the operation thereof and the method of applyin the same touse will be readily understoo It will be seen that I have provideda'simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objectsofthe invention and while I have particularly described the elements bestadapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that variouschanges in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction maybe resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe rinciples of the invention.

aving thus described the invention what is claimed is:

A massage device comprising a body of soft rubber formed with alongitudinally eX- tending handle receiving passage open at both ends,the body and passage bein rectan ular in cross section and front an rearWal s of the body being appreciably thinner than side Walls thereof,reinforcing beads eX- tending along side Walls of the bodylongitudinally thereof intermediate their side edges and across ends ofthe body about marins of the open ends of said passage to reinorce thebody and prevent tearing at ends of the passage when a handle is forcedthroughV the passage, and a handle having transversely concaved frontand rear faces engaged through the passage for the entire length thereofwith walls of thebody close- 1y contacting with faces of the handleandconforming to the contour thereof.

In testimony whereof I aiix m signature.

ROBERT J. M TZLER.

